According to the National Grandparents Day Website, Marian McQuade, a housewife in Fayette County, West Virginia, was the person responsible for initiating the idea of a National Grandparents Day. According to the website, she was hoping to bring attention to the elderly who were alone in nursing homes. Thanks to Ms. McQuade’s efforts, in 1978, the U.S. President at the time, Jimmy Carter, proclaimed a National Grandparents Day to be celebrated on thefirst Sunday after Labor Day.
Family Celebration on Grandparent’s Day
In honor of this proclaimed National Holiday, here are some fun ways children and grandchildren can celebrate as a family with Grandma and Grandpa on Grandparents Day.
Grandparent "Fry" – If the grandparents have a good sense of humor, the whole family can get together to "fry" them! Each person writes up his own fun insult to toss at each grandparent, remembering when Memaw tried to swing on the grandkids swing set and broke the seat; or how Grandpa backed into the family SUV. Everyone should keep the fry light and fun, with no mean insults. Follow-up with the grandparents getting a chance to fry back! A fun Fry and a backyard barbeque, will make it a a Grandparent’s Day they’ll remember for a long time!
Make Homemade Ice Cream, a Grandparent Favorite – There’s something nostalgic about filling up that metal canister with the vanilla ice cream recipe, packing crushed ice and rock salt around it, and then starting the motor. If Grandpa has a favorite recipe, even better! While the ice cream is freezing, the whole family can play bunco, charades or some other game. Keep the TV off unless a game will be played on the Wii! The goal is for everyone to just enjoy each other’s company.
Present a Memory Book – Each family member creates a “memory” page for a book to be presented to the grandparents. The memory could be in pictures, in a poem, or a fond remembrance written into a story.
The Grandparent Gene – For the get-together, the host can create a “Grandparent Gene” worksheet, in which everyone lists a physical, intellectual, and personality trait each child or grandchild feels they got from their grandparents. In addition, they can list things they have learned from each grandparent over the years. Grandparents will love hearing what genes they have passed down, and that the wisdom they have shared over the years has been heard.
One-on-One Grandparents Day Ideas
When a group family event isn’t possible, one-on-one time with grandparents will mean the world to them. Here are two ideas:
Interview Memaw, Pappa, Granny, Grandma or Grandpa – Grandchildren can sit with one of their grandparents and interview them. They can bring a list of questions asking what life was like for their grandparent growing up, how they met each other and fell in love, what they did for fun as children, etc. The grandchild could create a finalized Q&A that he can share with the grandparent once it’s done. The information would make a great school project!
Hide Thank-You Notes for Grandparents – A simple, inexpensive way to touch a grandparent’s heart is to write up “thank you” notes for them. Each thank you would be for one specific thing: All the fun sleepovers at their house; baiting their hook on fishing trips; teaching them to play checkers or how to make a pie crust. They can write thank you notes for coming to ball games, helping with homework, lending their ear or for those good back rubs that put them to sleep. The grandchild would write as many as she can think of, then secretly hide the folded notes around the grandparents' home, to be discovered later after the visit has ended. Every time a note is found, the grandparent will feel the special love that went into each note. (The notes should be placed where they will be found!)
Adopt a Grandparent or Visit a Nursing Home
If grandparents are no longer living, a family can “adopt” another family’s grandma or grandpa who might live far from their own children and grandchildren. They can make a visit to a nursing home or assisted living facility and spend time talking to the elderly who are sitting by themselves. Bringing a little joy to a Senior who is lonely will brighten everyone’s day.
Grandparent’s Day is not a huge retailer event or a highly celebrated occasion, but it should be one that brings a grandparent a little joy. No grandparent should be without at least a big hug on Grandparents day!
Related Reading:
"Labor Day and Other September Observances"
Resource:
National Grandparents Day Website
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